One of the most important goals of the guild is to provide quilts to those in need in our community. To that end, charity workshops are held to work together and provide an ongoing supply of quilts available to the guild to donate to local organizations dealing with children and families in need. Veterans, infants in the NICU, children and youth who have suffered loss, and local families who suffered because of illness or catastrophe are among the recipients of quilt made and donated by QUILT North members. In 2009-2010 guild year, 164 charity quilts were made and distributed.

Our charity effort is organized by Orpha Platt, Pat Picher, or Pat Stata. Please contact them if you are interested in helping. They organize the occasional workshops that are held in addition to making kits available at each meeting that members can take home to complete.

In addition, members are free to use their own resources and patterns to create a quilt to donate. The following guidelines should be followed:

CHARITY QUILT GUIDELINES

Some of the organizations that receive our charity quilts have made specific requests regarding size and manner of construction, so we have decided to issue these guidelines. Please follow them if you are making a charity quilt on your own.

Some special instructions for baby quilts. First, do not tie by hand - tie by machine - see instructions below (the hand ties are considered a choking hazard if they come loose). Second, do not use invisible or nylon thread. Third, use thin batting.

Baby Quilts Sizes
Square, from 15" x 15", up to 20" x 20"
Square, from 28" x 28", up to 32" x 32
Square 36" x 36"
Square: 40" x 40

Quilts can be hand quilted, machine quilted, or they may be tied by machine.

Here are the instructions for machine tying: Anywhere in the quilt where you would place a tie by hand, do this instead:. Put that spot on the quilt sandwich in your sewing machine right under the presser foot. Zig-zag in place (at "zero" length) about 10 times with a stitch width of a little less than 1/4". Then, switch to a straight stitch, and stitch in place 3 to 4 times to secure or "lock" the zig-zag. If you have a stitch locking function or a securing button on your machine, you may use one of those to secure the zig-zag. After you have secured your zig-zag, cut the threads even with the quilt. Do not leave any thread ends hanging.

Lap Quilts

All of the remaining sizes of quilts listed below may be either hand or machine quilted, hand tied, or machine tied. Also, the sizes below are approximate. If the pattern you choose makes a quilt that measures a little differently, give or take an inch or two, that's perfectly fine.

Wheelchair size is: 36" x 48"
Youth Lap size 40" x 60"
Adult Lap Size is: 48" x 72"

Again, anytime you ever have questions about the making of a charity quilt, using one of our kits, or making it on your own, please feel free to call Pat Picher or Orpha Platt.